Cleaning device for conveyer elements of chemical drying apparatus



D. F. TUCKER ETAL CLEANING DEVICE FOR CONVEYER ELEMENTS OF CHEMICAL DRYING APPARATUS Filed April 8, 1947 Dec. 13, 1949 INVENTORS Daniel F. Tucker 8: Harold R. Tyler BY M ' RTTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 13, 1949 CLEANING DEVICE FOR CONVEYER ELE- MENTS OF CHEMICAL DRYING APPARA- TUS Daniel F. Tucker and Harold R. Tyler, Wyandotte, Mich., assignors to Wyandotte Chemicals Corporation, Wyandotte, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,198

2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for perforated, sheet-like, conveyor elements of a drying apparatus. In a drying apparatus for dehydrating chemical products such as alkali chemicals, and particularly products such as chemically precipitated calcium carbonate, the material to be dryed is carried upon a perforated, endless belt, or perforated moving aprons or sheets. Hot air or hot gas is circulated around the conveyor element and the perforations in the latter aid in the efficient contact of the drying air or gases with the chemical product to be dried. It has been found that after a continued period of use, a dried residue of the chemical material, such as calcium carbonate, tends to build up on the surface of the conveyor element and to flll and clog the perforations therein. This results in an over-burdening of the conveyor and in decreasing the drying efficiency and output of the drying apparatus as a whole.

Heretofore it has been found necessary periodically to remove or clean out such built-up residue by hand, such as by tedious scraping and wire brushing. This procedure has been both time consumin and inefiicient.

It is the general object and nature of our invention to provide a cleaning device for perforated conveyor elements, of the endless belt or apron type, whereby any adherence, or build-up of residue on the conveyor element surface is removed as rapidly as it is formed, and while the drying apparatus itself is in operation.

Briefly outlined, our invention comprises a set of movable brushes which are so mounted as to bear against the surface of the perforated conveyor element, preferably at a point on its empty or return flight; and to impart to these brushes a motion in a direction transverse to that of the travel of the conveyor element. The net result is that the brushes, in contacting the surface of the perforated conveyor element, have a combined lateral and longitudinal motion with respect to such surface. Thus the brushing action is enabled to cover the entire conveyor element surface universally and to impart the necessary mechanical dislodging action for removing and cleaning off any chemical product residue adhering thereon. Most conveniently, such set of movable brushes are mounted upon a reciprocable steam pipe having jets or nozzles directed against the surface of the conveyor element. Thus the mechanical scrubbing or brushing action is imparted to the conveyor element surface along with the steam cleaning action from the nozzles. This results in an efiicient,

trouble-free and highly economical device for keeping the perforated conveyor elements adequately clean and in good operating condition.

Another object of our invention is to provide means for mounting the set of brushes on the pensating for the necessary wear in the brushes themselves.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends and to enable any person skilled in the art readily to understand and practice the invention, the following full and concise description and annexed drawing set forth the best mode in which we have contemplated applying the principle thereof.

In said annexed drawing- Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the device embodying the principle of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion of Fig. 1 and taken upon the same plane; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view taken upon a plane perpendicular to that of Fig. 2.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, there are shown therein the perforated metal sheet or apron l which is adapted normally to move in the direction such as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, and having the perforations 2 therein. The steam pipe 3 is mounted below the perforated sheet I and is adapted to move in a longitudinally reciprocating direction, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, by means of an actuating or driving device (not shown).

A supportin tube or bar 4 is located parallel to the steam pipe 3 and carries a set of brushes 5, the ends of whose bristles are adapted to contact with the under side of the perforated sheet I The brushes 5 are mounted upon the bar 4 by means of the channel bracket 6 and set screws 1.

Link arms 8, 8 are pivotally connected at their upper end through a suitable dowel pin to the bar 4. Each one of the link arms 8 is connected at its free pivot point or lower end,

through the pivot pin 9, to one of the link arms II), J; the latter in turn being pivotally connected through the pin l I to the block l2 mounted on each of the supporting brackets l3. The brackets l3 are in turn fixed to the pipe 3 by means of the U-clamps M. The last described structure thus constitutes a series of collapsible 3 toggle link members joining the bar 4 to the pipe 3.

A height adjusting or control rod I5 is located parallel to the bar 4 and pipe 3 and at a point spa'cedintermediately therefrom The-rod 55 carries thescrews l6(preferably inthe form of" a threaded sleeve) fixed or keyed thereto. The

screws I6 in turn engage with the interior threads on each of the nuts I! which are connected-totha movable or free pivot end ofthe link arms qilij through the medium of the connecting pins 9.

A thrust bearing [8 is provided for the rod I5 at a point approximately intermediateits length.- Thrust collars I 9 and 20 on the red I 5 comperat'e with the bearing iii, to lock'thefotlagainst longitudinal movement. The lateral extension 2| on the bearing l8 securesEthe-latten tofitl ie steam pipe 3. r

A suitable manipulating fixture, such as the hand wheel 22, is provided on theoutwardly, projecting end of the control rod" l5 A seriesof steam nozzles 23 are lo'cate'dat spacedpoints along the steam pipe 3; and are adapted to direct jets of steam up" against" the surface of the perforated sheet' I:

It'will thus beseen, thatby turning the hand wheel 222 the movable pivotpoints 9' of'the link arms 8 Iii'can' be moved in the appropriate di' rection correspondingly to move the" bar 4 upwardly or downwardly with respect" to itssupporting steam pipe 3. Thus the-correctsettingf.

of all of the brushes 5 and their degree'of corrtactpressure with the underside of theperforated 'sheet I 'may be simply adjusted and'controlled. As'the steam pipe-3' reciprocates back and forth, the-brushes 5 are likewise-movedin" the samedirection; As'the'perforated sheet'oi conveyor'el'ement i is moved-in a direction at right angles to such reciprocation; tlie'*brush'"es"5"-' are thus imparted a compound, oncombinedsidwaysiarrdillongitudinal motion on' the' surfaceof such sheet-L The extent of'the reciprocatingmovement of the brushes 5' is such -that it is equal to slightly more than half"the'distance between" the brushes. In this manner the entire surface of the sheet i is assurecl proper brushing action-- Other modes of applying thetprinciple of-"our invention-,1 in" addition to. the onei hereinabove described-and illustrated inedetaihmay be eir'iployed, provided: the structural elements stated 4 by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such elements be utilized.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention and discovery:

1. A cleaning device for a perforated conveyor sheetj comprising a reciprocable steam pipe mounted below and parallel to said conveyor sheet, a supporting bar carrying a plurality of brushesadapted to bear against the surface of said conveyor sheet, adjustable height mountpipe, a control rod extending parallel to said: supporting bar, screw elements on said'control ro'd each engaging with a nut attached to thefree pivot of each of said link members-whereby rotation of said control'rodeffects the adjustlnent of all of said link members, a thrust bearing for holding. said control rodagainst longitudinal movement with respect to said; steam pipe, said thrust bearing: being secured" to said' steam pipe, and a plurality of nozzles-insaid st'eam pipe directed upwardlytowardsaid conveyor sheet.

DANIEL; TUCKER, HAROLD RTMR;

REFERENCES CITED The following references" are" or" record in" the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 Name Date 1,340,768 Herr Mayi 18; 1920-- 1,629,990 Buch-holtz May 24-, 1927 Laospse Allen Apr; 2s;.193'1 FOREIGN PATENT-S Number Countryv Date L068 Great 'Britain' -of 1908' 392,892 France Oct. 9,1908 

